Warning: Spoilers for Knights of X #1 ahead!
The debut of the much-anticipated Knights of X series from Marvel Comics firmly establishes an ensemble cast comprised of the titular "Knights of X," but the X-Men fan-favorite Gambit may finally get a much-needed spotlight away from his superpowered wife.
Gambit was first introduced by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee in the classic 90s X-Men, originally as a partner of a de-aged and amnesiac Ororo Munroe, a "roguish" character who was seen as an anti-hero for decades. Deeply connected to the super villain Mister Sinister, Remy LeBeau was also a prominent member of the Thieves Guild, but his ongoing love for Rogue and the connections he made with the X-Men eventually cemented Gambit as a full blown superhero and beloved member of the X-Men. While Gambit and Rogue have long been the X-Men's number one "power couple," Gambit has had little time to develop on his own without his connection to Anna Marie, which Knights of X is providing.
Knights of X #1 written by Tini Howard with art by Bob Quinn and Erick Arciniega is a medieval tale spinning out of the pages of Excalibur, following Captain Britain and her war with the evil sorcerer Merlyn (and his right-hand-man King Arthur) for Otherworld. Tasked by Merlyn's faerie daughter Roma with gathering a team of ten knights, Betsy Braddock uses Otherworld magics to summon a diverse team of X-characters, with the core team consisting of Betsy, Rachel Summers, Gambit, Shogo, Bei the Blood Moon, Shatterstar, Rictor, Meggan, and rounded out to ten with the addition of Kylun and Mordred by the end of Knights of X #1. While Gambit is clearly one of many, this departure from his wife's side provides an opportunity to establish himself independently, as a force for good in the new mutant nation.
When Bei the Blood Moon, wife of X-Man Doug Ramsey, notes she and Gambit have left their "beloveds" back in Krakoa, Gambit's response suggests an undercurrent of resentment (or a need to emphasize his own importance independent of his wife's contributions). It seems like series writer Tini Howard is also interested in exploring Gambit as an independent lead, as the solicit for Knights of X #2 states:
"When Merlyn targets the Crooked Market, a safe haven for mutantkind, the Knights must split up... Will Gambit lead the others into a deadly trap? Death looms over the Knights—in more ways than one."
Now that Captain Britain knows that their main Dungeons & Dragons-esque quest is to search for and obtain the Siege Perilous, that doesn't mean that the Knights of X can just ignore all the horrible things Merlyn is doing to witchbreed around the realm of Otherworld. This is Gambit's chance to step up, and re-enter the spotlight as a true heroic leader during the X-Men's new "Destiny of X," and hopefully Remy won't stumble too hard.
Make sure to keep on reading Knights of X by Marvel Comics to follow Gambit as he tries to establish himself as a hero of Otherworld, all on his own.